Fluid operated controller



July 5, 1949. J. J. sLoMER FLUID OPERATED CONTROLLER 4 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1947 FORWARD REVERSE J066/2/t J J; VE/V TOR J a 3 P Mug 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 5, 1949. J. J. SLOMER FLUID OPERATED CONTROLLER Filed on. 10, 1947 O Q W 0 R F 16 a m m 0 Mb 2 4 w J w W Z M 0 m July 5, 1949. J. J. SLOMER 2,475,260

FLUID OPERATED CONTROLLER Filed Oct. 10, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet s EN7 R y 1949- J. J. SLOMER I 2475,26

FLUID OPERATED CONTROLLER Filed Oct. 10, 1947 4 sheets sheet 4 K\\ Egg. g

ACCUMULATOR Patented July 5, 1949 FLUID OPERATED CONTROLLER Joseph J. Slomer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 10, 1947, Serial No. 779,160

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fluid operated controllers particularly adapted to control the operation of the motors used to propel mine locomotives.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved fluid operated controller for the motors of a locomotive which is of a novel and efficient construction and includes valve means for starting and reversing the motors and a single control handle for said valve means, so arranged as to determine the direction of travel of the locomotive by the direction of movement of the control handle.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a novel and efficient form of fluid operated controller for controlling operation of a plurality of motors used to propel mine locomotives and including a variable pressure control valve and fluid operated reversing devices for the motors, together with a single control handle for controlling operation of the variable pressure control valve and reversing devices, and so arranged that as the control handle is turned in one direction from a neutral position the locomotive will travel in one direction and when it is turned in an opposite direction from a neutral position the direction of travel of the locomotive will be reversed, together with fluid control connections from the reversing devices to the variable pressure control valve, so arranged that fluid can only be supplied to the variable pressure control valve to operate the locomotive, when the reversing devices are in forward or reverse positions.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the control means of a fluid operated controller constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through Figure 1, showing certain details of the reversing valve and variable pressure control valve and the operating means therefor;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the reversing valve in one operative position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the same lines as Figure '3 but showing the reversing valve in an opposite operative position from that shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 6-B of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view showing certain details of the reversing valve;

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view showing certain details of the variable pressure control valve;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a controller for controlling reversal of a motor of the locomotive, showing the hydraulic operating means therefor in substantially horizontal section;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line I0-Ill of Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating certain parts of the fluid diagram for controlling operation of the locomotive motors.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the hydraulic controller includes generally a variable pressure control valve I0 and a reversing valve II mounted on an outside wall I2 of a casing I3 and extending within said casing. It also includes hydraulic reversing devices l4, l4 consisting of cylinders l5, I5 having pistons I6, I6 movable therein for operating reverse drums H, H for reversing the direction of operation of the locomotive motors (not shown), and distributor valves I8, I8 for supplying fluid under pressure to the operating cylinders (not shown) for the locomotive contactors (not shown) in a predetermined order, for starting and accelerating the locomotive motors, as in my prior Patent No. 2,417,524, dated March 18, 1947, and no part of my present invention, not herein shown or described in detail.

A vertical shaft I9 is journaled within the casing I3 and extends upwardly through the cover for said casing, and has a control handle 20 mounted on its upper end, for turning said shaft and controlling operation of the valves I0 and II, by means of two cams 2! and 22, keyed on said shaft. The ca-m 2| serves to operate said variable pressure control valve and the cam 22 serves to operate said reversing valve, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

The variable pressure control valve Ill includes a valve piston 24 slidably movable in a valve chamber 25 formed in a block 26 for said valve. The valve chamber 25 opens to each end of said block and communicates with an enlarged chamber 21 formed in a cap piece 29, closing the outer end of said valve block and secured thereto as by cap screws 30, 30. The chamber 21 communicates with a variable pressure passageway 3| leading from said cap piece and connected with an overload relay 32 by a pipe 33 (see Figure 11). Said overload relay is a hydraulic type of relay similar to that shown and described in my Patent No. 2,417,524 and is no part of my present invention so is not herein shown or described in detail. A pipe 341s" connected fr'om said overload relay to the head ends of the distributor valves l8, I8 for supplying variable pressures thereto to succes sively open certain ports in said valves (not shown) as the pressure in the pipe 34 progressively increases, and to per iiit said ports-to close as said pressure progressively" decreases. distributor valves and the control means operated thereby for controlling operation of the motors are similar to those shown in my prior Patent No.

2,417,524, and are no part of my present'inve'n tion so are not herein shown or described.

In-Figure' l;1a portion'of' a fiuid circuit for controlling operation" of a: two 'motor' locomotive is shown, and two reversing devices I4 and reverse drums-i=1 and-two-dis'tributor valves l8 are hereinshown as being provided for operating the locomotive. One of said reversing devices, reverse drumsanddistributor valves and the hydraulically operated contactors operated thereby, for controlling operation of one locomotive motor, may be mounted on the casingfor each locomotive motorg' soth'e'wiring for the locomotive may be coniiecteddirectly to the-motor casings with no intermediate connectionswbetween the controlle'rsand motor'casingsz Fluid under a' constant pressure is conducted to the valve block 26 by means of a pipe 35. Said pipe is connected from one reversing cylinder I5, intermediate its" ends, to said valve block and communicateswitha pressure passageway 36 extending within saidvalve block and leading to the valve chamber The valvepiston 24 has a substantially frusto conical' outer portion dispo's'e'd outside of said valve" chamber 25 and engagingtlie'inne'rperiphery of said=valve chamber 25"at' the'outside of said valve'block. Said inner periphery o'f'said'vailve chamberforms a seat for said frusto coni'c'al port'ion ofsaid valve piston, whicli forl'ns apoppet valve-'31, f'or admitting fluid tbthe chamber 27 at varying" pressures determined by'the position of thecontrol handle 20. The valve piston 2 4'l'ias a rduced p'ortion 39 extending: on o'ppo'site' side's' of-the pressure pa ssage- Wai36f- Aland fOrI'fis'the l'i ght-hand Wall Of said-reduced portion 'and'fdrm's a piston valve to release'fluid-t6'the poppet valve 37 and variable pressure chamber 2'15 upon" movement of said valve piston to theriglit The vane piston 24' is drilled throughout its length and" opens to the hollow inside of the casing |3 topei liiit the'rele'as of fluid from the variable pressure' in'e 31 through said valve pisto'n' into said casing,- and out said casing to the r'eturfijtliroiigh either'o'rie' of two return lines 42-, 422' The eii'd of thevalvepiston u opposite from the poppet valve; 3 1 ha's-= a collar 43 threaded thereon. Said c'ollar ls' shoiilderedto form a seat for a spring 44* ifiterposedbetween saidshouldered portion of said collar and a shoulder po'rtib'i'i 45 of the valve chamber" 25; to tend tomove said piston valve to tl'ie lft iht'o positidn to close said pistb'ri and poppe't valves. A ball 41 is seated iirth co1laf 43 and rents a valve to close the drilled" passageway through saidvalve. Said liill-i's allsd' esteem thereeessedendof' a menibei' 495 the" opposite end oi whim-member forms Said a seat for a compression spring 50. Said spring serves to operate the valve piston 24 and also serves to hold said ball on its seat formed by the inner periphery of the collar 43, to prevent the discharge of fluid through the hollow inside of said valve piston into the casing l3. When said spring 50, however, is free fluid under pressure may be' 'tlisclia-rged past'said b'all into' said casing. The end of said compression spring opposite from said member 49 is seated within a rectangular block 5| slidably guided in a rectangular guide 53 formed-ina guide member 54 secured to the bottom of the casing I3 and extending upwardly therefrom: A roller 55 is journaled in the oppositeendoi the block 5| from the spring 50 on a vertical p'ln'56i Said roller is adapted to engage the-faceof the-cam'fl, for moving said block 5| along the guide 53 to displace the spring 50 to the right, upon turning movement of said cam,

The cam 2| is of a substantially heart-shaped formatioh' with the on position of the variable pr-essuie'valvebeing at'its-low orrecessed portion;- and the extreme on position, when the control handle 20 is turned in either direction; being at' itsapexl- When said cam is in an off position, the spring Eli-will be'free and fluid'will be released from the variable pressure line 3| through the center of the valve piston 24 and past the ball 4 1; Turning of said-control handle in either a clockwise 'orcounterclockwise direction from this off position, displaces said spring towards the valve block'to move the valve piston 24 to the right and permit fluid topass by'the land 40 and poppet valve 3'|- into the chamber 21 and passageway" 3|", to supply fluid to the distributor valves l8; Iii-" atprogressively increasing pressures. As-saidca mis turned to itson position, the'spring 50 will'be displaced to'the'left to progressive'ly reduce the pressuresin said variable control'pipe and release "fluid from-said pipe past the ball-41in The dam 22', disposed a'bove thecam 2|, is provided with a. plurality ofv-inde'xing holes 51, 51 drilledtherethrough' at definitely spaced intervals' air-opposite sides of an indexing hole 59, indicating the'ofi" position of-the valves I0 and II. Another indeiring hole 60' is'drilled from the hole 59' and is spaced inwardly therefrom, to more positively hold said cams in the off position. Said indexing holes" and 59"are' adapted to be yie'ldably engaged by a spring pressed ball 6|, mounted-ma support member 62" for the upper bearing for the shaft l9. Said indexing hole 60 is adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed ball ES carriedby Saidsupport member (see Figure 2).

When" the contr'ol' handle 20 is turned to the first operating-position} veither to the-right or left of the neutral indexing hole- 59, the spring 50 w'illbe displaced an amount equalto the travel of the block il riii'nus any clearance there might be between the end of th'e spring' and the seat 49 and any: clearanc there might-be between the ball 4-| and -the'collar 43: Fluid under pressure will then pass' by the land- 4|! and the poppet valve 31' into th'e cliamber 21 and the variable pressure pipe-31 ata p'ressure substantially equal to' tli'e' force exerted by the spring 50. As pressari-rm: thevariable pressure'line 3| tends to increase beyond the force exerted by the spring so; the valvepiston 24-will"be moved to'the left and the 'ba'll l'l will a'lso be'movedtothe left against the spring- 503 tor'eleas'e' fluid from the end of said valve into the hollow casing l3. As pressure against th'right li'and' end of said valve piston and said ball 41 is-redueeu; said spring- 50 will again move said valve piston to the right to hold fluid pressure in said variable pressure line. As pressure in said variable pressure line is reduced a further amount, said spring will move said valve piston to the right a distance sufficient to open the valve formed by the land 49 and the poppet valve 31 and admit fluid under pressure to said variable pressure line.

It should here be understood that in order to maintain the desired pressure in the pressure line 3i and to take care of any leakages of fluid, the ball 41 is continually being unseated to release fluid from said variable pressure line and the valve piston 24 is continually moving back and forth in the valve chamber 25, to hold pressure in said variable pressure control line and admit fluid under pressure to said line or to discharge fluid past the ball 41 to the hollow inside of the casing 12 and to the return.

As the control handle 29 is turned towards an off position, the displacement of the spring 50 will be decreased for each step of turning movement of said control handle, and fluid pressure exerted against the right-hand end of the valve piston 24 and the ball 41 will move said valve piston to the left and will unseat said ball. Fluid will then be discharged past said ball through the hollow inside of the casing l3 to the return, until said valve piston has been balanced and the desired pressure has been established in the variable pressure line 3|, for the corresponding position of the control handle 20.

The reversing valve ll includes a valve piston 65 movable in a valve chamber 66 formed in a valve block 61 secured to the end wall ll of the casing l3 and projecting outwardly therefrom. Said valve chamber opens to each end of said valve block and the outer end thereof is closed by a cap piece 68 secured thereto by cap screws 69, 69. A compression spring 19 engages the inside of said cap piece and extends within a hollow inside portion of said valve piston, to urge said valve piston to the left. The end of said valve piston opposite from said spring engages a block ll slidably movable in a guide member [2, disposed above and secured to the guide member 54. Said valve piston is drilled from its right-hand end for a portion of its length and the drilled portion thereof communicates with a cross drill 73, to release fluid to the inside of the hollow valve casing it, where it is returned to the tank through the pipes 42, 42. A pressure passageway 14 enters said valve casing adjacent the upper end thereof and extends longitudinally therealong and communicates with two longitudinally spaced pressure passageways 15, I5 extending at right angles to said pressure passageway 14 and leading to the valve chamber 66. A pressure passageway 16 is spaced to the left of the left-hand pressure passageway 15 and leads from said valve chamber in a direction transversely of said valve block. Similarly, a passageway 11 is spaced to the right of the right-hand pressure passageway 15 and extends from said valve chamber in parallel relation with respect to said passageway 16. Said pressure passageways are adapted to supply fluid under pressure to opposite ends of the reversing cylinders l5, IS. The valve piston 65 has three spaced lands 80, 8| and 82, the outer lands 80 and 82 serving to control the passage of fluid under pressure from the pressure passageways 15, 15 to pressure passageways 16 and 11, respectively, and the release of fluid to the inside of the casing 13.

The block H has a roller 85 iournaled thereon ,on a vertical shaft 86. Said roller engages the face of the cam 22 and serves to move the valve piston 65 to the right upon rotatable movement of said cam in a clockwise direction from a neutral position indicated by reference character 81, and to permit the spring 10 to move said valve piston to the left upon rotatable movement of said cam in a counterclockwise direction from the neutral position indicated by reference character 8 Upon movement of the valve piston to the right, effected by rotatable movement of the cam 22 in a clockwise direction from the neutral position 8'7, fluid under pressure will pass through the right-hand pressure passageway 15, to and through the pressure passageway 11 (see Figure 4). It will then pass through a pipe 88 and a branch pipe 89 to the right-hand ends of the reversing cylinders l5, l5, to move the pistons l6, [6 within said cylinders to the left (see Figure 11). When said piston valve is in this position fluid will be released from the left-hand ends of the pistons I5, I6 and reversing cylinders l5, l5 through a pipe 9i and a branch pipe 92. Said pipe 9| is connected with the pressure passageway 16, and fluid is released from said passageway past the land 89 into the hollow valve casing l3.

When the cam 22 is moved in a counterclockwise direction from the neutral position indicated by reference character 81, the spring '10 will move the valve piston 65 to the left. Fluid under pressure will pass through the left-hand pressure passageway 15 in the space between the lands 8%! and BI, to and through the pressure passageway 56, and through the pipes 9| and 92 to the lefthand ends of the reversing cylinders l5, I5, to move the pistons l6, Hi to the right. When said valve piston is in this position, fluid will be released from the pressure passageway 16 past the land 82 and through the hollow inside of said valve piston and cross drill 13.

Thus when the control handle 29 is turned in one direction from a neutral position in a direction to accelerate the locomotive motors, the piston l9 of the reversing cylinder l5 will move in one direction, and when said control handle is turned in an opposite direction from a neutral position to accelerate the locomotive motors, said piston will be moved in an opposite direction along said reversing cylinder, to control the direction of rotation of the locomotive motors merely by turning the control handle 20 in the desired direction from a neutral position.

The reversing cylinder I5 is mounted on the top of a casing 93 for the reverse drum I1. Said reverse drum is of a well known form engaged by contact fingers 95, for reversing the direction of rotation of its associated motor in the usual manner, and is no part of my present invention so is not herein shown or described in detail. The piston i6 is herein shown as having piston rods 96, 96 of equal lengths extending from its opposite sides and guided in packing glands 91, 91 closing opposite ends of said reversing cylinder. The ends of said piston rods have engagement with the laterally spaced ends 99, 99 of a rack I90, which ends extend inwardly along opposite ends of said cylinder. Said rack is guided in a side wall of the cylinder l5 and in a frame lill formed integral with the top cover for the casing 93. Said rack is herein shown as meshing with a segment of a pinion I93 secured to the upper end of a shaft I04 for said reverse drum, for turning said reverse drum into a forward or reverse position A pressure p; "sgeway i051l8iif1SfIbIfi' one reversing cylinder I stalemate it's ends. The pipe- '35 co'n'nests said sressure assa eway with tfi ressur' passageway 36 6f the valve to; for supplting' fluid under a constant pressure thereto when t e reverse druni'l is in either aroma-rs 61" reverse position. saiddruii'i' pass'es fr'o'in a forward to reverse position, the piston 16 will close said pressure passageway I05 and prevent fluid from being supplied to' said valve 10, The c'iiitroller thus cannot be operated except when said reverse drum is either of its two'operative some as.-

Tlie pressurepassagway I05 ofiflthe" other revrsms cylinder 15 is conned d with the two distrisutorvalves I'B', l8 throng a pipe 1'06 and the lt'raribh-pipe 1 01, to suripwflmd wider pressure to successivly operate the cn'taefisrs for starting the locomotive motors,- and is also closed b3? the piston F5 except ii'hen'sai'd piston is iii either an extreme forward or an itr'eriie reverse position. Thelpistohs" l6,- l6 snsthe pressure passage ways l05,- H15 and the'fluid' connections therefrom to said variable pressure control valve and distributor valves; thus serve as" Hydraulic interlocks to prevent operation of thelocomotive r'notor's except'wh'enthe reverse drh'ni I1 is either an ex trenie forward or an extreme" reverse position.

While I have herein shown and described one form in vlhich I riay invention m y be embodied, it will be understood mamas construction thereof and thearra'ngeme'nt of the various'par'ts may be altered- Without departing fioln' the s'pirit and Scope thereof. Furtrier'mer do Ilbi'iWiSh to be onstr'ued as'liii'i itin invention to the Specific enibodirn'ent i ust 'r'ated ex ting as it may he lir'nit-edm the appended ol'aims'a I claim asmy' i'liv efltiiofi' 1. In a fluid operate ont'roller particularly adapted to control operation-of an electric niotor or the like, afluid operated reversals device-"ab reverse the dire tion of 'rotatio'n' of said motor,

variable pressure coiitiol valve for supplying fluid at progressively increasing and-'- decreasing pressures to control starting and stopping of said motor, a reversing valve for operating said reversing' device, a single control handle for" controlling o erational said v riab1e=pressurecon'- tr'ol valve and said; reverng v'alv; ans a cam o'prat-ively connected wit saidreversing" valve and operated by' saidc'o' r61; Handle and so eonst'ruc't'ed and arranged to' p'ositidri' Said reversin valve to sup ly fill-id under pressure to move said reversing devise into one position and 'caus'e'said motor to operateifi one direction said control handl'e'is rhove d in one-direction froiri an off or neutral position,-to'acceleratesaid' motor, and toposition said" reversing' valve to" supply fluid under pressure to move said reversing device into another position and cause said motor to operate in an opposite direction when said control handle is movedin-an opposite direction from an 01? or neutral position, to accelerate said Ir iotor. k V

, 2. Ina fluid operated controller particularly adapted to cbntrol' operati'onof an' l' rib motor or the like, a' fluid operated reversing: device to reverse the direction of rotation or said 111013 01,

avariable pressure co'iiltrol valvefor supplying fluid at progressively increasing" and" decreasin pr 'sa es t' controlj the startingl and: stopping 6f sai melons easin e t is. as revs-mag device, a fluid Mamba as San re:

8 ter'si asyaivetdsatnvzfima e'ssiire'thereto; fiuitl' connections rram" said rv'e'rsing valve to said reversing device, a fluid conne'otion from s n revers ng device to said variable pressure cpn'firoi valve to supply fluid under pressure thereto said reversing device is in Dosition to sausasaicl motor to operate in either a forward or reverse direction; and to' out off the flow a: fluid under pressure" thereto when said reversing device is changing frorn a; forward to a reverse p asma to prevent operation of said 151 for shrusaid reversing device is in a forward jo'r reverse position, a single control handle operable to control qpr'atibri of said variable pressure control valve" and s'a'id' reversing' valve, and a car's rotatably'rhbvedby said control handle and Hav ng operative connection with said reverse valve, to new said reverse valve to positions to move said reversing device into one position to'oausesaid motor to operate in" one direction w en; said control handle is moved in one sweetie-a from an off or neutral position on said to ac'celfera'te said motor, and-to position-said reversing valve to" sup ly fluid under pressure to in'o've said reversing device into another posiand ca'usesai'd motor to'operate in an oppos te diredtioh when said control handle-is moved m an opposite directionfrom an off or neutral posit on on said camlto aoce'lrate's'a'id' motor.

3. Ida; fluid operated controller particularly a-dsetea t'o control operation-of arrelectric motor or the like, a fluid operatedreversing device to revr'se the direction of r'ota on of said motor, a variable pressure control valve for supplying fluid at progressively increasing and decreasing pressides to control starting and stopping of said tor, a reversing valve idroperalting 'said reif erslng device, a single control handle for operat "g said v lves; twbs15aced cams rotatably sapve d 5y said' control handle, one of said cams having operative connection with said reversing valve and the other of saidcams having" operative bfirlecudn Wit'h" said variable pressure control vilve afid Said cams being so constructed and arranged as" to simultaneously operate said two valves; and" to in'oy s'aid reversing valve to a positfl oii t'o supply fluid under pressure to said reversing device toinove said reversing device into sosmbffito' eaus'e said motor to operate in one di'r'ecfii'onfwheri; said control handle is moved in onedireoti'onf from am 0'1? or neutral position, to accelerate" said motor, an to move said reversinfg valve to" spam-1m to supply fluid under assure" to: said reversing device" to move said re rsi'ng' device into position to cause said motor to opefatefin an opposite direotion' when said 'c ontr'olfhandle turned in an opposite direction from an" 011" 0'1 neutral position; to accelerate said fla s, v a.

fluids-pasted controller particularly adapted; 159 control operation of an" electric motor o the are, s; 111a operated reversing device to reverse the di t'iori' of rotation of said motor, a variable" pressure pon'tr di valve for supplying at pro'r'essi A, n yew increasing and decreasing pressures to control starting and strapping of said mamas reveffsiii ig valve" to operate" said reversde'ylcieza afluid connection to said reversing va v'wsmssly fluid under" pressure thereto, fluid pressure cori'riections from said'revrsmg valve to said reversing' devlce, a single cbnt'rol'handle for operating said valves, twb cams rotatamy moved 15y said 'c'bn't'rol liaridle, one of said dams having operative connection with said r versing valve suatlie othFbf said cams having operative connection with said variable pressure control valve, said cams being so constructed and arranged as to simultaneously operate said two valves and to move said reversing valve to a position to supply fluid under pressure to said reversing device to move said reversing device into position to cause said motor to operate in one direction when said control handle is moved in one direction from an off or neutral P sition, to accelerate said motor, and to move said reversing valve to a position to supply fluid under pressure to said reversing device to move said reversing device into position to cause said motor to operate in an opposite direction when said control handle is turned in an opposite direction from an off or neutral position, to accelerate said motor, and a fiuid connection from said reversing device to said variable pressure control valve arranged to supply fluid under pressure thereto when said reversing device is in position to cause said motor 10 to operate in either a forward or reverse direction, and to cut ofi the flow of fluid under pressure to said variable pressure control valve when said reversing device is changing from a forward to a reverse position, to prevent operation of said motor until said reversing device has moved to a forward or reverse position.

JOSEPH J. SLOMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 797,774 Lord Aug. 22, 1905 809,707 Linn Jan. 9, 1906 2,106,474 Baughman Jan. 25, 1938 2,417,524 Slomer Mar. 18, 1947 

